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MELBOURNE, Feb 14 AAP

February 14 2013, 12:46AM

Victoria's peak motoring body has called on the state government to protect motorists by increasing road maintenance funding and removing all railway level crossings.

RACV outlined its proposals in a budget submission made to the state government, which general manager of public policy Brian Negus said had been formed in response to a survey among the body's two million members.

"The 2012 budget failed to provide adequate funding to maintain Victoria's road network and the community is already bearing the costs of that decision with increased road crashes, increased wear on vehicles, increased fuel consumption and damage to goods being transported," he said in a statement.

"The 2013/14 budget must commit to an improvement in the condition of Victoria's roads, including reducing the length of road that is in a deteriorated condition and putting road users lives at risk."

Mr Negus said the RACV had also called for the removal of all 172 level crossings on Melbourne's electrified rail network.

"Collisions between trains and vehicles at level crossings are increasing," he said.

The submission also mentioned several infrastructure projects that were key to an integrated transport system.

It included a Melbourne Airport rail link between Tullamarine and CBD to improve access to and from the airport.

RACV also urged the state government to prioritise three sections of highly congested road, nominated in a RACV redspot survey as the most frustrating roads.

They included the Murrumbeena Road/Neerim Road level crossing at Murrumbeena in the city's southeast and the Chandler Highway, from Heidelberg Road to Princess Street, at Alphington and Kew in Melbourne's northeast.

Point Cook Road, between the Princes Freeway to Dunnings Road, at Seabrook in Melbourne's southwest was also nominated.